Events Calendar

Took place on Tuesday February 26 2008

Natural Habitats and Wildlife Workshop

The draft targets for this principle are:

By 2025 100% of Sutton residents and workers should be within easy (and pleasant) walking distance of accessible green spaces

Increase numbers of Sites of Importance to Nature Conservation under active management (Draft LAA target):
• 21 out of 48 sites (baseline)
• 4 new sites by 2011

Increase the volunteer days given to nature conservation. Nationally the average person does 1 working day per year of conservation.

The workshop started with a walk led by Richard Harris, Biodiversity Officer at Sutton Council, from All Saints to Spencer Road to look at the Wetland habitat, protected by London Wildlife Trust.

The following actions to improve Natural Habitats and Wildlife in Hackbridge were identified:

Action 8.1 More street trees and shrubs as pollution and noise barriers. A target was suggested of a street tree every 25 metres.
Responsibility LB Sutton Street Care Team, Trees for cities, Community groups, youth groups and schools could get involved in identifying suitable streets, selecting species and planting. Adopt-a-tree, name-a-tree schemes could also be introduced.

Action 8.2 Enhanced grass verges: - longer, wider verges with more diverse planting along all roads (perhaps the group meant all roads with verges?)
Responsibility Taking the idea forward could involve LBS, Community groups, youth groups and schools.

Action 8.3 Green path and nature trail network, including information boards, maps and signs. This could include routes to the stations from commuter blocks, Mile road and the pathway from Beddington Park to Mitcham Common.
Responsibility Taking the idea forward could include LBS, Network Rail, volunteer groups (BCTV?), local business, Thames Water

Action 8.4 Develop a 'green corridors' network across Hackbridge with increased street trees, verges and biodiverse gardens.
Responsibility London Borough of Sutton biodiversity officer

Action 8.5 More bins to reduce litter, particularly on streets, bus stops and parks
Responsibility LB Sutton Street Care Team

Action 8.6 Enhance the Wandle for biodiversity through removal of concrete, improvement of soft landscaping, use of attenuation ponds and redevelopment of flood plains. At; Mill green channel; Spencer road, Watercress Park in particular
Responsibility Wandle Forum and various councils
Progress Submitted idea to www.wandlevalleypark.org.uk

Action 8.7 Ecological education and information centre as entry point to the Wandle Valley Regional Park at the field on land adjacent to BedZED
Responsibility This could be provided as part of the Wandle Valley Regional Park
Progress Submitted idea to www.wandlevalleypark.org.uk

Action 8.7 Limit disturbance to wildlife along the Wandle by putting paths only on one side of the river, particularly when Wandle Valley Industrial Estate is developed
Responsibility Wandle Forum, developers, London borough of Sutton
Progress Submitted idea to www.wandlevalleypark.org.uk

Action 8.8 Litter pick groups of volunteers in the local community
Responsibility The local community (Friends of Beddington Park already do this in the park)

Action 8.9 Improved access to the Wandle at Birchwood Avenue to Restmor way or Felnex; Spencer Road Wetland Reserve; Beddington Farmlands; and all reserves.
Responsibility LB Sutton, London Wildlife Trust, developers and landowners

Action 8.10 More bird and bat boxes in gardens, allotments and other green spaces
Responsibility Residents, businesses and allotment holders/ managers

Action 8.11 Wildlife ponds at the new developments in Hackbridge (e.g. Felnex, Kelvin House and Wandle Riverside)
Responsibility Developers of the new sites

Action 8.12 Improve landscaping along railways to benefit biodiversity
Responsibility Network Rail

Action 8.13 Well landscaped / vegetated Hackbridge Station
Responsibility Network Rail, Southern Trains, First Capital Connect

Action 8.14 Protect green space to the East of London Road & include in a regional park e.g. Wandle Valley Regional Park
Responsibility London Borough of Sutton, Viridor, other land owners
Progress Submitted idea to www.wandlevalleypark.org.uk

Action 8.15 Develop Beddington Farmlands as a nature reserve along the WWT London Wetlands Centre model
Responsibility Partnership of widlife groups (e.g. WWT), developers (to finance) and LBS (create and guide framework)

Action 8.16 More managed wilderness areas e.g. areas of scrub with maintained paths going through in the open green space where is currently predominantly lawns and isolated trees.
Responsibility

Action 8.17 Landscape parks, streets and communal gardens to provide food for birds
Responsibility LBS, developers and residents' associations

Action 8.18 Feeding stations for birds in parks and communal green space to encourage common and target species e.g. tree sparrows
Responsibility Land managers

Action 8.19 Provide mix of uses for our public green space - some primarily for community and others for nature
Responsibility

Action 8.20 Warden for Spencer Road Wetland
Responsibility London Wildlife Trust

Action 8.21 More wildflower meadows in parks, verges, track-side
Responsibility Land owners, community, businesses

Action 8.22 Use of grazing animals on open green space e.g. East of London Road
Responsibility

Action 8.23 Wildlife crossing for London Road - bridge or tunnel
Responsibility LB Sutton

Action 8.24 Remove and prevent further paving on front and back gardens
Responsibility Residents with support from LBS and community groups; establish laws to prevent

Action 8.25 Plant more native shrubs and hedges to benefit invertebrates and birds in gardens and encourage residents to do this through a best garden competition
Responsibility Everyone with a garden

Action 8.26 Example of biodiverse garden and allotment to educate residents
Responsibility BioRegional could provide this as part of the BedZED show home which is open to the public. EcoLocal is developing demonstration allotment as part of the food education project (at Westmead).

Action 8.27 Greater green space provision in new developments including green roofs
Responsibility Developer / LBS Planning Dept

Action 8.28 Encouraging more volunteers by offering bird/bat box or free plants
Responsibility Volunteer organisations e.g. BCTV

Action 8.29 Improve facilities in parks - seating and play areas such as Watercress Park in particular
Responsibility LB Sutton

Contact: jessica@oneplanetsutton.org

Type of event: One Planet Living

Related principles: Natural Habitats and Wildlife

Back to all past events →